Consumer

Baby/Maternity Children Family LGBT Men Religion Teens Women
News Release Digital Asset Direct

New Research from HPL Digital Sport Finds Divide Between Sports Betting Executives and Bettors on How to Acquire and Retain Users

HPL Digital Sport

Today, HPL Digital Sport (HPLDS), a specialty group within Hot Paper Lantern, that helps sports betting, fantasy sports and sports technology companies create greater brand relevance, released its new study “ 2021 State of the Sports Betting Industry - Executive Perceptions vs. User Realities. ” Two separate surveys were conducted to create the study: the first, developed in partnership with SBC Americas, is a first-of-its-kind report measuring the perceptions and attitudes of nearly 200 sports betting executives; a second survey, facilitated by YouGov, on behalf of HPLDS, questioned more than 800 American sports bettors, asking their opinions on how to best engage with them and retain their business, future betting capabilities needs and their betting habits and preferences. The data found that sports betting executives and sports bettors were not aligned on what is most important in acquiring and retaining users. Executives resoundingly said that having a superior product (55%) was the key to gaining users more than other elements like having strong customer service (13%), content (12%) or brand (11%). Bettors countered that sentiment, indicating that brand reputation and trust (47%) among betting sites/platforms was the most important factor in engaging them and retaining their attention. “The sports betting market in the US is extremely competitive. Our data found that the average sports bettor limits their use to only two to three sports betting platforms. So, it’s clearly important for these platforms to better be in tune with their audiences to create greater appeal to both acquire and retain their business,” said Ed Moed, CEO of HPLDS. “Having a compelling, user-friendly product will always be important to build a larger share of this growing sports betting audience. But, it feels like this could be happening at the expense of investing in their brands. The data doesn’t lie. This is a real problem with any strategy that doesn’t include figuring out ways to create greater brand relevance within this hotly competitive space.” Apart from the divide on the topic of product vs. brand, the study uncovered compelling insights on the future capabilities in sports betting, how different demographics view the importance of certain sports betting elements, how women bettors as an audience are growing and are being overlooked and the constant presence of the illegal sports betting markets. Future capabilities of sports betting Three-fourths (75%) of executives stated that they are planning to launch new products, innovations, technology or gameplay in 2021. Technology providers, content producers and data providers are all signaling a major push towards in-play betting and in-stadium/arena lounges. Bettors indicated that while they are excited about elevated betting experiences like in-play betting, when asked about future sports betting capabilities, having more social betting experiences rose to the forefront. Social betting (31%) and retail betting (31%) outpaced more popular media talking points like in-play betting (26%), loyalty programs (25%) and in-stadium/arena betting (24%). Creating differentiation by targeting specific demographic preferences When asking bettors about their overall experience and ranking the importance of certain sports betting elements leading them to frequently using a betting site or app, users provided a roadmap for how companies should think about targeting them. General Public Retention Roadmap Brand reputation/trust - 47% High level product/experience - 45% Ease of financial transactions - 43% Better odds and promotions - 38% Expert content - 35% Referred by friends or family - 34% Social media content that drives me to engage with the brand - 33% I like their advertisements/celebrity endorsements - 30% Breaking down that road map by age and gender it becomes clear that not all bettors find the same elements important. Gen Z, for instance, doesn’t view brand as important as other groups. While every other demographic listed brand reputation/trust (Millennials - 46%; Gen X - 53%; Boomers - 56%) as its most important retention factor. Conversely, Gen Z views referrals by family or friends (42%) as more important than brand (39%). The social experience of sports betting for Gen Z and Millennials is heightened even more when looking at how they view social media content compared to the Gen X and Boomer markets. Both Gen Z and Millennials (38%) noted social media that drives them to engage with the brand as a leading retention factor. Gen X (22%) and Boomers (14%) however don’t see the value in social media and listed it at the bottom of their priorities. Boomers and Gen X audiences follow traditional thinking surrounding sports betting, which is more functional and practical than the social experience prioritized by Gen Z and Millennials. Both Boomers (50%) and Gen X (47%) feel that odds and promotions are an important part of their experience, while odds seem to be deprioritized by Millennials (38%) and Gen Z (28%). “The potential for in-play betting in the American market is incredible,” said Moed. “While bettors are excited about in-play betting, the data shows that bettors are looking for an immersive social betting experience including retail betting and betting with friends and family. The importance of social interaction, content and sharing capabilities and social betting, should not be downplayed or overlooked.” Women bettors - An underserved market While most sports betting messaging is general or leaning male, women bettors are gaining ground as a significant segment of the market. The study found that one-in-three (33%) bettors are women. That is an increase of 5-points from HPLDS’ State of the New Sports Bettor study released in May 2020. When it comes to the most active bettors, ones that make daily bets, women (17%) are evenly split with men (18%). The data also shows that women bettors show many similarities with male bettors compared to the importance of brand, product, and ease of financial transactions. But women deviate their priorities from men when it comes to the importance of social components in sports betting. Women bettors prioritize friends and family referrals (41% women vs. 31% men) and the use of engaging social media content (38% women vs. 30% men) to keep them interested in frequenting a particular betting site or app. “The industry can’t continue to afford overlooking the growing number of women bettors in the market,” said Moed. “The audience is clearly telling us that they need to be able to trust the platforms they use. And, that trust often comes from referrals and those who are credible through social media. I don’t know if the typical promo advertising that is prevalent will work with this pickier audience. Instead, they will believe brands that are deemed as credible and recommended by many who matter.” The Continued Prominence of the Black and Gray Market Bettors stated that betting through illegal markets is still a prominent channel in 2021. More than a third of bettors are using illegal channels to place a bet (20% of bettors use offshore sportsbooks and 17% use a bookie). “We have a long way to go when more than one-third of our sample is using illegal or off-shore resources to bet,” said Moed. “I think some of this is quite normal and as the industry continues to build momentum and experience enormous growth, bettors will quite naturally turn to platforms that are legal here in the U.S. But, even if this percentage is cut in half, it means that there is still a large part of the betting population who needs to be communicated to, educated and turned towards this marketplace.” For more information on HPLDS and to view the report please visit, hpldigitalsport.com. About HPL Digital Sport Hot Paper Lantern Digital Sport is a specialty group within Hot Paper Lantern (HPL) that works with sports betting, fantasy and sports technology brands to build greater brand relevance and acquire new audiences. The group’s unique value proposition is how it leverages years of deep expertise in this category with the way it integrates specific services such as: strategic branding, customer research/analytics, performance marketing, public relations and social media strategy, experiential and high level creative design to generate results. Contact Details Hot Paper Lantern Michael Adorno +1 212-931-6143 madorno@hotpaperlantern.com Company Website https://www.hpldigitalsport.com/

June 14, 2021 10:01 AM Eastern Daylight Time

The Impact of Hearing Loss and What You Can Do About It

YourUpdateTV

Hearing loss has been shown to affect nearly every dimension of human life, including physical, emotional and mental health. Recently, World Champion and Olympic Kayaker, Eric Jackson, participated in a nationwide satellite media tour to discuss his own battle with hearing loss and the importance of getting your hearing tested. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/0Ewdu9hNHF8 Hearing loss is the most common neurologic disorder in the world, affecting around 460 million people. According to the National Institutes of Health, about 37.5 million adults report some trouble hearing. Experts note that hearing loss is an undertreated condition, with an estimated 28.8 million U.S. adults with mild to severe hearing loss could serve to benefit from hearing aids. Untreated hearing loss brings higher risk of dementia, depression, memory loss, injury, and cognitive decline. There are several reasons for delay in addressing hearing loss, including recognizing and accepting that one may have hearing loss, having access to Hearing Care Professionals, and misperceptions associated with hearing aids. For Eric Jackson, hearing loss has been a lifelong battle. In 1966 at the age of two, Eric contracted Scarlet fever which caused him to completely lose his hearing in both ears. Eric is now 57 and his hearing has been partially restored over time; however, he still lives with severe hearing loss today and relies on hearing aids like ReSound ONE as necessary tools to help him communicate. All of ReSound’s hearing aids are designed with the person in mind, and is made to be discreet, comfortable, durable and functional. Hearing quality is the foundation for ReSound hearing aids, providing unmatched hearing quality, emulating the way humans hear sound. For more information, visit resound.com/online-hearing-test About Eric Jackson: Eric Jackson is a four-time world champion and an Olympian who has dominated the whitewater kayaking scene for the past three decades. Eric has received numerous accolades for kayaking, including two Everest Awards and the World Paddle Lifetime Achievement Award. He is also an entrepreneur, motivational speaker and hosts his own popular videos on YouTube. In 1966 at the age of two, Eric contracted scarlet fever which caused him to completely lose his hearing in both ears. Eric is now 54 and his hearing has been partially restored over time; however, he still lives with severe hearing loss today and relies on hearing aids and lipreading as tools to help him communicate. Eric has never let hearing loss stop him from enjoying life and pursuing his ambitions. Today, Eric spends his free time helping others achieve their goals, coaching the winners of almost every gold medal winner in freestyle kayaking over the past 15 years, including his two children. Eric’s son, 27-year-old Dane, a world champion kayaker himself, also lives with severe hearing loss which he has had since birth About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

June 11, 2021 03:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Video

Pennsylvania Video Gaming Association (PaVGA) Advocates for Transition of Skill Games to Regulated Video Gaming Terminals (VGTs)

Pennsylvania Video Gaming Association (PaVGA)

The Pennsylvania Video Gaming Association (PaVGA), the statewide trade association representing manufacturers, distributors and operators of video gaming terminals, continues to support legislation to ensure that skill games are subject to the same regulatory requirements as gambling devices. Currently, skill games are not regulated by any state agency and are not subject to gaming taxes on net revenues as are slot machines, video gaming terminals (VGTs) and iGaming platforms. “Regulation would provide much-needed revenue to small businesses like bars, restaurants and veterans’ clubs, which would benefit from VGTs in those locations. The anticipated revenue from VGTs versus skill games is substantial,” stated PaVGA Executive Director Denise Calabrese. The operation of these games in bars, clubs and restaurants will provide a viable, sustainable revenue stream for struggling establishments who have been hit particularly hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as a stable base of new revenues to the Commonwealth. “Because there has been no alternative sustainable option to gaming revenue for bars, veterans’ clubs, and restaurants throughout Pennsylvania, those venues have turned to the skill game industry for that revenue,” Calabrese explained. “The issue is that these devices, and the companies that own and manufacture them, are not regulated and there is no oversight of those companies, the individual’s who own those companies, or the devices. Pennsylvania’s bars, restaurants and veterans’ clubs, Pennsylvania Operators, and the thousands of consumers who choose this form of entertainment, deserve to know that their gaming options are being overseen by a government agency and that proper protocols are in place to protect them.” PaVGA believes that the Pennsylvania General Assembly needs to pass legislation with urgency to resolve this issue and ensure that any gaming devices operated in the Commonwealth are subject to the full oversight of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB). During a Senate Community, Economic and Recreational Development Committee hearing on June 7, a Pennsylvania Senator stated there could be as many as 55,000 unregulated skill games currently in operation in Pennsylvania. While opponents to skill game regulation warn of detrimental impacts to the Pennsylvania Lottery and casinos, both continue to realize record high revenues. Furthermore, the same operator-based model PaVGA is advocating for in Pennsylvania has been successfully implemented in Illinois with negligible impact on the revenues of the lottery or casinos. “All we want to do is bring these unregulated games under the purview of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to ensure that adequate protections are in place for consumers, establishments and operators,” Calabrese said. “This is more about applying equal standards to skill and gambling operations in the Commonwealth than it is VGT expansion. We have a statutory and regulatory structure already in place in the Commonwealth that provides for the safe, fair and equitable operation of VGTs. Skill games should be brought under that construct and be treated just like current gambling devices.” Contact Details Michelle Keyser Director of Communications +1 717-724-9166 communications@pavga.org

June 11, 2021 11:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Phantom Fireworks Urges Shoppers to Buy Early Amid Possible Fireworks Shortage as America Celebrates Fourth of July with Lowest Pandemic Rates in over a Year

Phantom Fireworks

The US’s largest consumer based retail fireworks company urges customers to shop for fireworks supplies early - as the industry, like many other industries, faces supply chain issues with global shipment delays Phantom Fireworks stores and retailers across the nation are ready to support shoppers seeking fireworks to celebrate the season - with extended store hours, in person shopping opportunities and additional staff to help fireworks buyers select the best products for their needs Fourth of July, America’s holiday, promises to be especially celebratory this year, as the nation reaches a key milestone in its recovery from the pandemic Phantom Fireworks, the country’s top consumer fireworks retailer, is urging shoppers to purchase their fireworks early this season as supply chains face slower turn-around times due to lagging global shipments spanning numerous industries. Despite shipment timing concerns, Phantom Fireworks still anticipates ample supplies of fireworks products available for a successful, safe and celebratory season - particularly as the nation’s leaders have designated this year’s holiday as the unofficial return to normal following the pandemic year. “Like many other industries, the fireworks industry has also experienced delays due to shipment challenges facing the global market,” said Alan L. Zoldan, Phantom Executive Vice President. “The good news is that we prepared early in anticipation of high demand again this year, and are encouraging Phantom customers to do the same. We are always excited to be a big part of America’s favorite holiday - the Fourth of July, especially meaningful following the 2020 pandemic summer.” Last year’s personal fireworks sales surged to record rates industry wide, including at Phantom Fireworks. Many communities had public fireworks displays postponed and cancelled at the height of the pandemic, and sporting events, amusement parks and concerts all but disappeared. Phantom Fireworks adapted to the 2020 pandemic surge by offering a variety of purchase options online and pick-up and offering in-store pandemic-friendly hours. This year’s Independence Day holiday is showing similar momentum as national leaders, including President Biden, have declared the summer holiday as the beginning point for the nation to “mark our independence” from the virus. Because of the high demand, Phantom Fireworks has been preparing for the season with additional store openings, early shopping incentives and updated inventory, despite the emergence of supply chain challenges. Company leaders are confident that planning ahead, and early shopping will allow for the supply to hold and avoid shortages of products as the holiday approaches. “Unlike last summer, we’re hopeful that most families can celebrate this Fourth of July season together,” said Bruce J. Zoldan, Phantom President. “Phantom Fireworks stands ready to help Americans turn the page this year - to enjoy our nation’s favorite summer holiday in their individual communities safely with Phantom Fireworks products - and with a promising future for the year ahead.” To follow Phantom Fireworks on social media, visit us on Twitter ( www.twitter.com/Fireworks ), Instagram ( www.instagram.com/phantomfireworks ) and Facebook ( www.facebook.com/fireworks ). For additional information on open stores and information on this year’s shopping process, visit: www.fireworks.com About Phantom Fireworks Phantom Fireworks is the top consumer fireworks retailer in the country with retail stores in fifteen states and is also the major July 4th product supplier to several national retail chains in all states that permit the sale of consumer fireworks. Each state has different laws and guidelines that regulate both the industry as well as the new COVID-19 reopening regulations. Phantom has a comprehensive and easy-to-find listing of state protocols on their website: https://fireworks.com/education-and-safety/state-laws-and-regulations Contact Details Amelia Hoffman AHoffman@fireworks.com Company Website http://www.fireworks.com/

June 10, 2021 02:05 PM Eastern Daylight Time

World’s largest product discovery platform RangeMe opens UK retailers to over 750,000 products

RangeMe

The world’s largest product discovery and sourcing platform RangeMe has launched in the UK today. Buyers at British retailers will now be able to source over 750,000 products and connect with more than 200,000 suppliers to fill their shopping aisles and online stores with curated products meeting consumer demand. Buyers at high street chain LloydsPharmacy are currently partnering with RangeMe. RangeMe first launched in 2013 and is used today by over 12,000 retailers in the U.S., including Walmart, Ulta Beauty, Walgreens, and Albertsons. It has quickly established itself as the industry leader for retail product discovery and sourcing by becoming the world’s largest source of brands and products purchased by buyers in the US. RangeMe helps retailers and their buying teams scale product sourcing efforts with streamlined submissions, simplified discovery tools, and the industry standard digital sell sheet. RangeMe enables buyers to filter searches to find brands meeting exact sourcing needs, enables seamless connectivity and collaboration with suppliers and provides curated collections to help identify and understand category trends and emerging brands. “Consumers are looking for a variety of products from all over the world and sourcing them online. The British public is no different, yet high street retailers have struggled to offer these products in store or online principally because they don’t have sight of all that’s available in the market. RangeMe will change this for retailers bringing more choice to shopping aisles and a significant revenue opportunity,” said Nicky Jackson, CEO of RangeMe. “We will pick up the heavy lifting for buyers and present the global product market opportunity in one screen”. LloydsPharmacy which caters to the medical, lifestyle and well-being needs of millions of people in the UK is an early adopter of the RangeMe platform. “We pride ourselves on offering the widest range of products that meet the highest standards for consumers. RangeMe is already helping us to identify a wider spread of products for our customers. Equally importantly, we will quickly scale our buying operations through the platform and reduce the time to get more products on our shelves” added John Acland, Head of Category Management and eCommerce at McKesson UK, parent company to LloydsPharmacy. RangeMe also invites British suppliers to join the platform for a front-row audience of the biggest high street retailers. It is a single place to represent their brand and products to a network of thousands of retail buyers. RangeMe helps suppliers grow their retail relationships with a platform that gives them the tools and insights to manage their products, market their brand, and build awareness. RangeMe is the global online platform where retailers and suppliers can discover, connect, and grow their business. Suppliers can showcase their range, bring new products to market, increase brand visibility, and grow sales, while buyers use RangeMe to discover new products, search trends, and communicate directly with brands. “Our mission has always been to empower retailers and suppliers to be productive and successful. The world has become a smaller place but it remains distant for forging strong cross border buyer and seller relationships. RangeMe will bridge this gap for buyers and sellers around the world and ensure extraordinary products hit store shelves, faster than ever before” added Nicky Jackson. About RangeMe RangeMe, an ECRM company, is the leading online platform that streamlines new product discovery between suppliers and retailers. The platform empowers retail buyers to efficiently discover innovative and emerging products, while streamlining the inbound product submission process. For product suppliers, RangeMe enables them to grow their retail relationships with a platform that gives them the tools to manage their products, market their brand, and build awareness. Now integrated into the ECRM product offering, RangeMe adds increased breadth and depth to the industry's most complete sourcing solution for top retailers and product suppliers. Contact Details RangeMe Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://www.rangeme.com/

June 09, 2021 04:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Image

SCIENTISTS WORLDWIDE PLEDGE THEIR TRUST IN SCIENCE IN CELEBRATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF LIGHT

International Day of Light Steering Committee

The UNESCO International Day of Light on May 16 th celebrated the worldwide campaign promoting the importance of science and the scientific process for society and sustainable development. The Trust Science pledge saw supporters of science worldwide join together to affirm their appreciation for science. Notable signatories include Nobel and Breakthrough laureates, UNESCO prizewinners, CEOs, representatives from scientific societies and academies, individual scientists and students from nearly 100 countries. “After a year in which we have seen science lead the global response to the coronavirus pandemic, we thought it was essential to highlight the importance of trusting its methods in guiding decisions,” said Steering Committee Chair John Dudley. “The pledge focuses particularly on science’s role in improving quality of life, a sentiment that clearly resonates around the world.” The International Day of Light recognizes the value of light science and technology and its role in providing clean energy, clean water, high-speed connectivity and medical treatments. The day was celebrated with events and hands-on activities in more than 55 countries. The International Day of Light also highlighted the achievements of a number of Champions of Science, individuals from all fields whose work is changing the world. “As a scientist, seeing this kind of support for the scientific process is inspiring,” said Neysha Lobo-Ploch, FBH Berlin, UVphotonics NT GmbH, Germany and LightDay 2021 champion. “I’m honored to have my work acknowledged in this way.” After its initial launch with the International Day of Light, the #TrustScience campaign will continue throughout 2021, and scientists worldwide will be organising targeted actions throughout the year. Dudley explains, “A central aim of this initiative has been to remind members of the scientific community that we share a responsibility to ensure that the public has confidence in science and its outcomes. It is up to us to explain how science works and why it can be trusted.” The Trust Science campaign is organized by the IEEE Photonics Society, SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, and The Optical Society (OSA), together with the International Day of Light Steering Committee. To sign the pledge and to learn more, please go to https://www.trust-science.org Contacts For questions about how you can engage with the campaign, please contact: info@trust-science.org For media inquiries, please contact: pr@trust-science.org Social media: please share using #TrustScience and #LightDay2021 Social media links: Facebook; Instagram; Twitter About the International Day of Light The International Day of Light (LightDay)is a worldwide initiative that provides an annual focal point for the continued appreciation of light and the role it plays in science, culture and art, education and sustainable development, and in fields as diverse as medicine, communications and energy. The International Day of Light is administered from the International Basic Science Programme (IBSP) of UNESCO by a Steering Committee that includes representatives from a broad range of international partners: the American Institute of Physics (AIP), the American Physical Society (APS), Bosca, the China International Optoelectronic Exhibition (CIOE), Chinese Optical Society (COS), the European Centres for Outreach in Photonics (ECOP), the European Photonics Industry Consortium (EPIC), the European Physical Society (EPS), the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), the IEEE Photonics Society (IPS), the International Commission on Illumination (CIE), lightsources.org - the international network of accelerator based light sources, Light: Science and Applications, The Optical Society (OSA), Tampere University, SPIE, the International Society for Optics and Photonics, SESAME, Signify, Tampere University, Thorlabs, Transitions, the Université de Franche-Comté and Velux. For information about the International Day of Light, please visit www.lightday.org Contacts for IDL: John Dudley and Joseph Niemela Bethany Downer 2021 Steering Committee Chairs 2021 Communications Coordinator Email: contact@lightday.org Email: contact@lightday.org Media Contact for Trust Science: pr@trust-science.org About IEEE Photonics Society The IEEE Photonics Society is the professional home for a global network of scientists, engineers and allied professionals who advance laser, optoelectronics, and photonics technology. As a technical society representing the IEEE, it is a vital part of the world’s largest technical professional organization of more than 400,000 members dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity. Through its highly cited publications, conferences, technology standards, educational activities, and humanitarian initiatives, the IEEE Photonics Society provides its members in more than 160 countries the opportunity to grow professionally and stay on the forefront of transformational breakthroughs in photonics. PhotonicsSociety.org About SPIE SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, was founded in 1955 to advance light-based technologies. Serving more than 255,000 constituents from 183 countries, the not-for-profit society advances emerging technologies through interdisciplinary information exchange, continuing education, publications, patent precedent, and career and professional growth. SPIE annually organizes and sponsors approximately 25 major technical forums, exhibitions, and education programs in North America, Europe, Asia, and the South Pacific. In 2020, SPIE provided more than $5 million in support of education and outreach programs. www.spie.org About The Optical Society Founded in 1916, The Optical Society (OSA) is the leading professional organization for scientists, engineers, students and business leaders in light science and technology. The society serves over 432,000 customers and 22,000 members from more than 100 countries who fuel discoveries, shape real-life applications and accelerate achievements in the field. OSA provides quality research, inspired interactions and dedicated resources for its extensive global network of optics and photonics experts through world-renowned publications. For more information, visit osa.org. Contact Details pr@trust-science.org +1 703-907-0010 pr@trust-science.org Company Website https://www.trust-science.org

June 08, 2021 09:58 AM Eastern Daylight Time

New Study from ZOE Shows Significant Inflammatory Responses After Meals

ZOE

Scientists at health science company ZOE and King’s College London today published novel research in the peer-reviewed American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The study shows that acute and prolonged food-induced inflammation can increase the predicted risk of developing cardiometabolic diseases like cardiovascular disease. As the largest in-depth global study to look at postprandial inflammation, researchers found that inflammation, triggered by food, varies widely between individuals. Moreover, for the first time in a study of this scale, researchers were also able to identify the relative influence of blood sugar and blood fat levels on inflammation, demonstrating a stronger link with blood fat responses than blood sugar. These findings highlight the potential for personalized strategies to reduce chronic inflammation in preventative health. The facts on inflammation and food: Inflammation is a normal biological process caused by the immune system responding to injury. However, sustained long-term (chronic) inflammation is linked to many health conditions, including type 2 diabetes and heart disease Researchers measured levels of fat, sugar and inflammatory markers in the blood of 1,000 PREDICT participants who had eaten set meals at specific times, making this by far the largest study of the impact of food on postprandial inflammation in the world Most people experienced some level of inflammation after eating but the amount varied widely between people, depending on their unique biology. For the first time, this study shows that changes in the levels of fat in the bloodstream after eating have a greater influence on inflammation than blood sugar levels. This shows that only concentrating on a single measure like blood sugar or blood fat is not the right strategy for overall dietary advice There are several strategies that people can use to reduce food-induced inflammation Understanding your personal nutritional responses after eating can enable you to make food choices that will help reduce inflammation and better support your health Measuring inflammation after eating Led by Dr. Sarah Berry and her team at King’s College London and ZOE, in collaboration with Massachusetts General Hospital and additional researchers in the US, UK, Italy, Spain and Sweden, the PREDICT study invited 1,002 healthy adults taking part in the PREDICT research program to come into the team’s research clinic for a day. They were all given two standardized meals to eat, each containing precise amounts of fat, carbohydrate, fiber and protein: breakfast (a muffin and a milkshake) and lunch 4 hours later (a muffin). The researchers took blood samples from the participants before the breakfast meal and at nine points throughout the day. These were then analyzed to measure the levels of blood fat and sugar at the different timepoints, along with levels of two markers of inflammation, interleukin 6 (IL-6) and Glycoprotein acetylation (GlycA). While IL-6 has conventionally been used as a measure of inflammation, GlycA has recently emerged as a more robust marker. Higher levels of GlycA are also associated with a number of health conditions, including fatty liver, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some cancers. Dr Sarah Berry from King’s College London, who led the study, explains, “Several small studies have previously tried to look at the relationship between food and inflammation, but the results have been inconsistent due in part to the challenges in measuring levels of inflammation after eating from blood samples. Thanks to recent advances in metabolic science, we were able to take advantage of a novel marker, GlycA, to gain new detailed insights into the connection between food and inflammation.” Additionally, the researchers also gathered detailed data on the participants’ health, including information about their typical diet, a stool sample for microbiome analysis, and a body fat scan. Individual inflammation responses after eating vary widely The researchers found that the levels of inflammation after eating varied widely between participants, including identical twins, even though everyone had exactly the same meals at the same intervals. For the first time in a study of this scale, the researchers were able to separate out the influence of blood sugar and blood fat levels on inflammation. While both unhealthy fat and sugar responses were associated with higher levels of inflammation after eating, blood fat was a stronger predictor of food-induced inflammation than blood sugar. People with more body fat and greater body mass index (BMI) were more likely to have higher levels of inflammation after eating, supporting current evidence that management of obesity will reduce chronic inflammatory burden. Levels of inflammation also tended to be higher in males than females, and in older participants than younger ones. How to control food-related inflammation Berry explains, “Experiencing inflammation after eating is a normal biological response, but prolonged, sustained periods of inflammation have been linked to health conditions such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease. If you have less healthy responses to fat or sugar, then it’s easier to overload your system after eating, leading to increased inflammation.” Based on these findings, Dr Berry recommends several strategies to help reduce the impact of inflammation after eating: Control unhealthy blood fat responses by choosing whole foods that are higher in fiber and lean protein, increasing your intake of healthy omega-3 fats from sources like fish, nuts and seeds, and reducing your overall body fat Control unhealthy blood sugar responses by choosing foods containing complex carbohydrates and fiber, such as whole grains, fruit and vegetables, and limiting sugary processed foods and sodas Reduce inflammation after eating by choosing foods that are high in ‘anti-inflammatory’ bioactive molecules such as polyphenols, found in colorful fruits and vegetables and other plant-based foods Understand your biology and choose foods that are less likely to cause unhealthy blood fat or sugar responses after eating Tim Spector, Professor of Genetic Epidemiology at King’s College London and scientific co-founder of ZOE, adds, “Previous results from our PREDICT study showed that the combination of microbes living in our guts, known as the gut microbiome, is closely linked to how we respond to food, particularly fat. We have also found that microbiome composition is strongly associated with GlycA levels, opening the door to reducing food-related inflammation and improving health by manipulating the microbiome.” To help bring this cutting-edge science to everyone, ZOE now offers an at-home test that measures blood fat, sugar and inflammation levels after eating, along with in-depth microbiome analysis, and provides personalized advice on the best foods to eat to support overall health. Professor Spector concludes, “Our PREDICT research program is the largest study of its kind in the world, and results like this mark important steps forward in unpacking the complex connection between diet, inflammation and health. Our mission at ZOE is to enable anyone to understand their own unique biology and make food choices that optimize their health through the latest advances in nutritional science.” Find out more about the ZOE at-home test and nutrition program at joinzoe.com. Notes and resources: Link to proof Read more about the PREDICT research program: joinzoe.com/post/what-is-predict Read more about how ZOE’s research uses standardized muffins to measure metabolic responses: joinzoe.com/post/muffin-metabolism-predict Read ZOE’s White Paper on inflammation, diet and health: joinzoe.com/whitepapers/dietary-inflammation Learn more about the science behind ZOE: joinzoe.com/whitepapers/overview ZOE’s previous research on the link between the gut microbiome and responses to food: joinzoe.com/post/nature-microbiome-discoveries Find out more about the ZOE at-home test and nutrition program at joinzoe.com ZOE is a healthcare science company helping people understand their body’s responses to food. By using machine learning combined with large scale human studies, ZOE is decoding the impact of nutrition on health. ZOE leads the PREDICT Studies and the COVID Symptom Study, which are the world’s largest community-powered research programs of their kind in nutrition and COVID-19 respectively. Located in London and Boston, ZOE was founded by Professor Tim Spector of King’s College London, data science leader Jonathan Wolf and entrepreneur George Hadjigeorgiou. ZOE was named one of the Deloitte Fast 50 Rising Stars in 2019 for the company’s contribution to science enabled by technology and machine learning. For more information on ZOE’s mission and science, visit joinzoe.com. Contact Details ZOE Fiana Tulip +1 817-691-3031 fiana@joinzoe.com Company Website https://www.joinzoe.com

June 08, 2021 08:34 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Image

June is National Candy Month – Unwrap the Sweetness This Summer

YourUpdateTV

Whether you’re heading to the beach, the pool, out for a hike, or just to your backyard – chocolate and candy can add some sweetness to your summer. Recently, Lauren Boland and Carly Schildhaus, spokespeople for the National Confectioners Association, participated in a nationwide satellite media tour to discuss the top summer candy types and provide fun ways to celebrate National Candy Month. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/zmhC2qP6y7M A recent survey from the National Confectioners Association revealed that: 94% of Americans who say they’ll go camping this summer will bring chocolate and candy along. 93% of Americans who say they’ll go on a road trip this summer will bring chocolate and candy along. 89% of Americans who say they’ll go to the beach this summer will bring chocolate and candy along. 81% of consumers agree that it is completely fine to treat yourself with chocolate or candy occasionally and 77% of consumers feel physical health and emotional well-being are connected. Top 3 Most Popular Summer Candies 1. Chocolate 2. Gummies 3. Hard Candy Top 3 Most Popular Summer Candy Flavors 1. Strawberry 2. Watermelon 3. Cherry For more information, visit NationalCandyMonth.com About the National Confectioners Association (NCA): The National Confectioners Association is the trade organization that advances, protects and promotes the unique role of chocolate, candy, gum and mints in a happy, balanced lifestyle and the companies that make these special treats. Through advocacy and regulatory guidance, communications, industry insights and retail and supply chain engagement, NCA helps foster an environment that enables candy makers to thrive. Confections are produced in all 50 states, creating jobs for approximately 54,000 workers in more than 1,300 manufacturing facilities across the country. Learn more at AlwaysATreat.com or follow NCA on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

June 07, 2021 05:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Video

Correct & Replace: Prepare to entertain in style with exclusive Provenance Signature Collection

Seasonal Living

(Replace Signature Trends with Seasonal Living). Backyard living is taking a trendy turn as more homeowners extend their living space with luxury furniture, and Seasonal Living will be launching a unique collection at spring High Point Market this June. The Provenance Signature Collection will be available for preview at the Hight Point Spring Market from June 5-9 in the Seasonal Living Showroom (InterHall # IH-506). Orders will start shipping in late September. The collection has been exclusively designed for Seasonal Living by the creative director of Four Point Design Build, Laura Muller. Muller is an internationally recognized, award-winning designer, builder, author, and advocate for the interior design profession. Her knowledge and experience in promoting wellness coupled with nature-inspired designs are intended to promote positive feelings and experiences that happen with and or around this collection. “Seasonal Living is beyond thrilled to be working with Laura Muller of Four Point Design & Build,” Seasonal Living CEO Gary Pettitt said. “Laura has created such a beautiful (and timely) collection that personifies not only her exceptional talent as a designer but a collection that seamlessly moves between indoor or outdoor living specification.” A recent report uncovered that 78% of people are looking to upgrade their outdoor space right now. As homeowners prepare to start entertaining again, post-pandemic, the trend has been toward creating a paradise in the backyard. Luxurious furniture, elegant fixtures, and deluxe appliances are the new status symbols. Designing a stylish and relaxing outdoor space brings together the natural desire to get outside with the comfort of the indoors. “When designing the new exclusive Signature Collection for Seasonal Living, I wanted to create an Indoor/Outdoor Collection that was truly seamless and flexible in both spaces (not only in product design but in the material and color palette selections), said Laura Muller, Owner, CEO and Creative Director, Four Point Design Build Inc. “Given what the world has experienced over the last year, I was very mindful in my design intentions toward easy product care and product longevity, as well as creating flexible timeless pieces that would endure the test of time.” Invoking restful tranquility, the Provenance Signature Collection is intended to augment a wellness experience in any environment. The designs reflect the intimate and abstract intersection of land and coast, and architecture and nature. Few furniture collections provide a truly seamless indoor and outdoor experience, but Provenance Signature pieces enable designers to easily create highly personalized, relaxing environments with fluid transitions between inside and outside spaces. “This Collection is intended to celebrate my deep connection to nature and the timeless California architecture of my youth, and for the many beautiful memories spent with family on the coast of California,” explains Muller. “My hope is that buyers will sense (in the designs) all the wonderful and familiar natural elements that speak to me from a lifetime in Southern California,” adds Muller. In this collection, the designer and Seasonal Living have worked closely together over a 15-month period to embrace not only the values of responsible environmental stewardship but also in selecting materials that provide our customers with years of easy product care, which highlights our emphasis on physical and mental wellness in creating products that require minimal care. Comprised of three main materials; Fiber-reinforced polymer, ceramic, and Outdoor Wicker, (High density polypropylene) the collection features neutral pieces that reflect elements in nature that provide a sensuous and healing experience, such as stone, sand, earth, fire, and water. “The Provenance Collection personifies Laura’s commitment to blending highly-refined design style with Wellness intentions to create an initial core collection that exemplifies the casually sophisticated essence of southern California living,” explains Pettitt. “Laura’s experience, professionalism, and enthusiasm working on this project have been a hurricane of fresh air.” To learn more about the collection, visit: http://bit.ly/Provenance-Collection or scan the QR Code below. Follow Seasonal Living on Instagram at: @seasonal_living_trd ABOUT SEASONAL LIVING Seasonal Living is a 5x Arts Award winning manufacturer and importer of modern indoor/outdoor furniture, lighting and decorative accessories. Seasonal Living has been in business for 17 years and is well established in both the international residential and hospitality markets. Seasonal Living shown in Interhall at High Point Market for the past 10 years. Seasonal Living is known for its innovative use of sustainable materials in the production of their furniture as well as for supporting factories around the world that have been involved in small batch artisanal production for generations. In 2020, Seasonal Living Magazine launched the world's first virtual Designer Show House (a 20,000 SF residence is built entirely in the virtual world, set on 20 acres in Malibu, California overlooking the Pacific Ocean) in collaboration with 11 internationally known interior designers and 15 leading KBIS manufacturers. The floor plan reflects a forward-looking perspective on how homes will need to function in an uncertain future, based on the pandemic and changing priorities of luxury homeowners. For more information, click here to tour the Showhouse: https://www.seasonalliving.com/seasonal-living-magazine/. Follow Seasonal Living on Instagram at: @seasonal_living_trd ABOUT SEASONAL LIVING MAGAZINE Seasonal Living Magazine is a separately owned media asset of Gary Pettitt. It is a consumer facing luxury lifestyle shoppable digital magazine published 4 times a year. Its mission is to encourage people around the globe to live more in harmony with the 4 seasons of Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer, through inspiring images, articles and videos about all things seasonal with respect to Food + Recipes, Design, Wellness, Entertaining and Travel. The Summer issue, out now, is the 13 th edition of the Magazine this link: http://seasonalliving.com/seasonal-living-magazine. A printed copy of the Magazine is available in the Seasonal Living Showroom (InterHall # IH-506) at the June 2021 High Point Market. For more information and to view all 13 issues, visit: http://issuu.com/seasonallivingmagazine. Contact Details Shaun Thompson Shaun Marie Thompson +1 310-739-7489 Shaun@shaunthompsonpr.com Company Website https://www.seasonalliving.com/collection/provenance-collection/

June 05, 2021 03:00 PM Pacific Daylight Time

Image

1 ... 188 189 190 191 192 ... 195